USVI-On-Line

Hi all,
We're considering giving St Barths a try next year and I'm looking for some first-hand experience, tips, info, etc. on where to stay, things to do, getting there, etc. from someone who has been there. I've done the Google searches and such and found a lot of great information, but was hoping for some personal advice from someone from my favorite forum! Thanks!

You will get a kick out of landing there if you like roller coasters. I love St. Bart. Almost all white (french) and very very expensive.

There are a variety of options for staying in St Barths - really, from fairly affordable small hotels, to villas, to very pricey 5 star resorts.
The beaches are beautiful - snorkeling is limited in comparison to the VI beaches - the food is excellent - the wines are French and affordable - town of Gustavia is charming - you will need a rental car - the island is French and very European in feel.
Do some more research - try and find some accommodations that you feel comfortable with and go for it - I have been there quite a bit and it is every bit as enjoyable a location as I know of.

Yeah, I read about the way the planes land there. Saw some pictures too. That looks crazy! That runway does not look nearly long enough!

Exit Zero - thanks for the tips! I'm going to keep researching and will probably have some questions for you in the near future.

Lucky you...would love to see that place.

I thnk you have to be beautiful and have serious cash to go to that Island...right?

just kidding...I'm jealous.

One of the other non-profitable things I waste my time on is our St. Barts blog - there is a ton of info here:

http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/st-barts/

I was also there once for a couple of days - going on 12 or 13 years ago. I loved the place - really does have that European feel, with great beaches, and great food.

Here is a video of the airplane landing:

http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/st-bar ... ng-on.html

And some good webcams here:

http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/caribbean-web-cams/

17th Hole,

My wife and I have been to St. Barth's (SBH) more often than St. John. We think of it as a French version of St. John . . . a bit tough to get to, a bit pricier, a bit tonier, a bit tidier than its neighbors.

You'll land at St. Maarten (Dutch side) and then hop over to St. Barth's on a small prop plane. You can take a ferry, but it's a very rough, longer ride. The plane ride is also unforgettable; check out SBH landings on YouTube. I'm a skittish flier, but this one doesn't seem to bother me.

Lodging and food aren't exorbitant, but they're up there. You'll need a car to get to the beaches unless you stay at one of the very few (pricey) beach hotels. We like to stay at Le P'tit Morne ("the little hill"), which may offer a room+car package. Moderately priced, outstanding views.

Bien sur, the island is French, despite its Swedish heritage. Everyone speaks English, but a few French phrases are always helpful. Primarily a Caucasian local population. Funny, I can't remember if we used dollars or euros; probably both.

You may see some celebrities. Last time, David Letterman; he has a home there. Time before, Matt Dillon, clothed, on one of the nude beaches.

Let me know if you have questions. I mean, uh, about St. Barth's. (The H is silent.)

TM

I was checking into St. Barts also. I haven't gotten far enough to know that we need to fly into St. Marteen.

So, now I am wondering . . . how is St. Marteen for a destination?

Gina

Gina,

The feel of Sint Maarten/St. Martin is comparable to St. Thomas, and Phillipsburg has the bustle of Charlotte Amalie, although on a smaller scale. That's where the cruise ships dock and the planes land. On the French side, Marigot is the urban center, and perhaps a bit more picturesque than Phillipsburg.

You won't be conscious of driving from the Dutch side to the French side. I think the French side feels more French than the Dutch side feels Dutch.

It seems that there's more lodging on the French side, but this may have changed since our last visit. Definitely some larger hotels on this island, and quite a few on or near the beach. We liked staying in the Cupecoy area as we were within walking distance to some restaurants. But you'll want a car, at least part of the time, to explore.

Great food, particularly at Grand Case on the French side.

Personally, I think it's worth the extra time/effort/expense to go to St. Barth's.

TM

We like to stay in villas when we visit STJ. Are there any villas or areas on St Barths that you could recommend? We tend to look for the same thing I think most people look for in a villa - a pool with a view! I've bookmarked a few but personal recommendations are always a nice starting point. Thanks again everyone! So far, just the advice I was seeking!

There are villas on beaches like Baie de St Jean , Baie de Flamand, and Petit cul de sac that are beachfront or very close - so you may not always need a pool as an amenity when looking for villas, if you are up in the hills a pool would likely get some use though.
Lorient has a few small guest houses and even Gustavia has a few small affordable hotels right in town.

We have been to St Barts about 4X. We stopped going and found St John. The only reason we stopped going (in the off season) was that with the euro, we felt like we were getting ripped off every time we purchased anything as approx. 30% was added in the exchange rate.

The villas are very expensive to start with more so than St John. The island is quiet in off season and is really very French. The beaches were similar to St John in that there were not a lot of people on them. Not much snorkeling. Food, was exceptional! A ham sandwich tasted like a million dollars. Oh the French they are foodies.
Gustavia is a quaint town with sidewalk cafes. Shopping is very high end.There is just a sexy vibe to the island.
The most important thing I forgot to mention is that you really don't need a bathing suit on the beach!!!!

We used WIMCO for our villas. Call them and see what they suggest. I am sure there will be discounts even though the villas are expensive.
And yes the plane landing is the best. The landing strip ends at the beach. If they don't make the landing the just lift off and turn around and try it again. First time I was hyperventilating but after that I looked forward to it.
Getting nostagic talking about the island but I fell St John has more to offer for less money.

For the villas closer to the water (down off the mountains where the breezes are) do the mosquitoes become an issue? I've noticed that many of the beds in the villa pictures I'm looking at have mosquito netting.

The netting may be a nod to design as well as functional - I am not sure all the villas are fully air-conditioned in the American style of construction - the Island is extremely dry in comparison to any of the larger Caribbean islands - there are very few broad leafed big trees, the soil is very rocky and cactus is dominate - so I have never really found mosquitoes to be a problem .
Maybe in the salt pond areas of Grande Saline, Grand Cul-de-Sac or Carenage but since there is no fresh water source I am not sure.